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Senators 'working hard' to sign Mike Hoffman

Ottawa wants to avoid another arbitration hearing with forward

The Ottawa Senators are attempting to complete a multiyear contract with restricted free agent forward Mike Hoffman before an upcoming arbitration hearing, general manager Pierre Dorion said Monday.

"We're working hard," Dorion told TSN 1200 Radio. "I think they are working hard to get a deal done and we're working hard to get a deal done. We obviously would like to avoid a one-year arbitration."

Hoffman, who has led the Senators in goals the past two seasons, (29 in 2015-16; 27 in 2014-15) could have a hearing Aug. 4. He was given a one-year, $2 million contract from an arbitrator prior to last season.

"We want what's best for our hockey team, for our fans," Dorion said. "The only good point, and it could be a bad point, is we know we have Mike Hoffman playing for us at least for one more year. But we're going to work hard at it. We all want to sign Mike Hoffman. I can't say more than that.

"Again today I talked with his agent; he's been a pleasure to deal with. We've had numerous conversations over the last few weeks from the [NHL Draft, June 24] on. We're working at it. We still have until Aug. 4, and then after that we'll probably have 48 hours if we still go to arbitration to get something done."

Hoffman, 26, said Sunday he wants to stay with the Senators long-term.

"That's obviously my No. 1 goal. I love Ottawa, I love the fans there," Hoffman told the Toronto Sun. "We're a great team, great guys, so that's obviously my first priority, to try to get something done with them."

The Senators on Monday acquired center Derick Brassard from the New York Rangers in a trade for forward Mike Zibanejad.